Costco Will Sell You an Apocalyptic Year's Worth of Disgusting Food for $800

Gizmodo ^ | 10/7/2010

[FromLori]

Either our nation's obesity problem is just as bad as they say, or Costco knows something we don't, because the aircraft carrier-scaled big box store is now offering enough (horrifying) food to last you a year for a cool $800.

The monstrous, 5,011 serving package, courtesy of food outfitter Shelf Reliance (hey, at least we'll have kept our senses of humor during doomsday!) claims their end days buffet contains "only top-of-the-line products," "developed with everyday menu planning in mind." Which makes sense, of course, because the only thing worse than knowing that the entire eastern seaboard has been leveled by nukes or a horde of flesh-feasting space titans is repetitive bunker fare—dehydrated fish skin AGAIN, mom?

Possibly more disconcerting than the notion of a year underground eating food from Costco is the fact that the package isn't just marketed for emergencies, but for "long-term food storage supply." Meaning that someone, somewhere, thinks it's a rational idea to buy an $800 cargo crate including containing 84 gallon-sized cans, to just, y'know, save yourself a trip to the grocery store. Now, I am totally down with Costco's cheese platters, and pasta multi-packs, but. My God.

Either our nation's obesity problem is just as bad as they say, or Costco knows something we don't, because the aircraft carrier-scaled big box store is now offering enough (horrifying) food to last you a year for a cool $800.

[bgill]

I’d rather have well cooked pinto beans, and they’re cheaper. Cooked well they behave themselves during their journey through the innards.

I've heard adding a bit of baking soda to the pot will make them behave.

I'm kinda like you in that I'd rather have real food. I used to have a decent garden and canned, dehydrated, or froze everything. Not so now days. I stock up on store bought canned goods that we normally eat. I was raised by a farm granny so can't sleep at night if the pantry isn't stocked. Hubby recently became one of the unemployed so first thing I did was go through every inch of the kitchen organizing, checking dates, and making sure I knew what we had and what we didn't. Not that I don't keep it organized, but there were still some surprises - mostly to the excess side and only a half dozen things went into the trash. Not long ago, I had done the same for the bathrooms. I'm now working on organizing all the emergency/files/how to info. Then it's on to the large outside stuff. I don't care if my family thinks I've lost my mind - I might have, but it makes me happy.

[little jeremiah]

I find soaking beans overnight and then good long cooking helps tremendously. Chewy beans are not good for innards! I use a pressure cooker for beans.

I am sure hard times are coming, much worse than many people imagine. And then due to lack of work, many individuals and families are having very hard times right now. If I didn’t know how to live cheap I’d be in great anxiety.

Fortunately I’ve always been poor and know how to deal with it! ;-)

[little jeremiah]

If we can get a decent garden together I’d really like to dehyrdate veggies. A lot easier than canning and I loathe canned veggies. Fruit’s okay though, if home canned.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the information - this feels better now...

[bgill]

Fortunately I’ve always been poor and know how to deal with it! ;-)

Exactly! Frugality can be an art. Use it, re-use it, re-invent it, and use it up.

[kalee]

What do 2 people do with a #10 can of food? How long does it last after it’s opened?

[ChocChipCookie]

If you can keep humidity out of the can, it will usually last several months. If you wish, you can open the #10 can and portion out the food in jars or small mylar bags. Add an oxygen absorber and seal.

[SonsOfCollins_Wallace]

Excellent ideas. I've been advising folks with much the same info for at least 2 years along with much of the info on this thread.

Also read “Patriots:Surviving the coming collapse” for good extended tactical ideas. The idea of a neighborhood defense team is an absolute MUST if you are stuck in the city.

Defense of a neighborhood is doable rather than trying to do one house or one apartment complex. I would investigate a small water well drilling rig [3/4HD ton LB4x4 PU truck as base] and the pipes and a solar powered pump as something to have in a suburban/far suburban area.

[SonsOfCollins_Wallace]

You can take the boxes of cornbread/redbeans&rice/other types of similar mixes and seal them in a vacuum pouch to extend their shelf life. Some items are OK dehydrated and will do OK in a vacuum pouch but freeze drying at home is not doable, as I know of today, even though it is a better way to store.

[little jeremiah]

Here’s a link to a lot of preparedness info, it’s connected with pandemic preparedness but works for any situation.

http://homepage.mac.com/monotreme1/Prepare%20folder/Food_Individual.html

[SonsOfCollins_Wallace]

There is no way to get the power back inside of 2-3 years if the EMP event is large scale enough, coal or otherwise (if coastal ports/docks are out then its 3-5 years).
The distribution system [substations and overhead distribution lines] is what goes down first and then the transformers (all in a few microseconds)
The large transformers are NOT readily available even now as they take 6-12 months (and at $10+millions) to make and then you have to transport them from the docks (most are NOT manufactured in US anymore, so getting them here is a problem too) to the site via a LARGE tractor-trailer rig.

EMP takes out ALL electronic devices that are not in a Faraday cage structure.
Diodes and capacitors and transistors and ICchips are what control most equipment and are the most vulnerable.
Any car after 1972 will be toast and need a complete replacement of its electronic ignition system [if you just happen to have a replacement kit somewhere safe].

[ozarkgirl]

Hubby recently became one of the unemployed so first thing I did was go through every inch of the kitchen organizing, checking dates, and making sure I knew what we had and what we didn't

I don't care if my family thinks I've lost my mind - I might have, but it makes me happy.

I think your husband should be grateful to have a good wife. Haven't been reading my Bible lately but I do believe I recall reading about the good wife, it appears you are one of those.

And I always thought your name was male. :)

[eXe]

Yup, once tshtf, this food will be better than gold.

Now, that said, I have some of this stuff.. and it was pretty darn good the little we tested, the rest is stored in the store room here just in case :)

[sfimom]

If there is a prepper ping list please get me on it :)

[sfimom]

please add me to your ping list.....love your blog btw, ordered and read one second After on your advice yesterday....read it in a few hours. now I am unable to sleep lol

[ChocChipCookie]

Thanks! One Second After is a life-altering book. I don’t go anywhere anymore without thinking, “Could I get home...?”

[Smokin' Joe]

You must have fats and oils.

Bingo. A lot of the greasy foods people shun now will be at a premium. A few gallons of Olive oil and a couple buckets of lard...

Salt, too. Lots of it, especially if you are far from an ocean. Not just to put on your meal, but to preserve food.

[ASOC]

Sauerkraut..(mmmmmmmm)
Ya, gotta have pickling salt. Sauerkraut, SPAM! and German potato salad.... mmmmmmmmmmm. Gotta go - Dinnertime!

[sfimom]

I have to admit that i bawled on at least three parts. i am making my three oldest kids read it for school now (homeschool)

[ChocChipCookie]

Well, that book is what REALLY got my husband on board with prepping. He’s always been supportive but left it all up to me. Now he’s the one thinking of getting a pre-1972 vehicle.